Introduction
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India witnessed an unexpected shift in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, orchestrated by the INDIA bloc's 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' campaign. This campaign, launched by the Congress party on April 3rd, aimed to connect with over 80 million households across the country and raise awareness about the party's five 'Nyay' (justice) principles, comprising a total of 25 assurances. The campaign's impact was evident in Lucknow, where numerous women gathered outside a Congress office, seeking the 'guarantee cards' promised during the party's election campaign.
Many Muslim women submitted the Congress guarantee card they had already received (Source: Business Today)
The 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' Campaign
Ahead of the elections, the Congress party distributed 'guarantee cards' to households, pledging an annual sum of Rs 1 lakh to the female head of each impoverished family. Images captured a sizable group of Muslim women enduring the heat as they lined up outside the Lucknow Congress office. While some women requested these 'guarantee cards', others who had already received them submitted forms to initiate the process of receiving the promised funds.
Certain individuals claimed to have received receipts from the Congress office after submitting their forms, containing the necessary details for fund disbursement. This initiative, led by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, assigned party workers and leaders the task of reaching out to approximately 80 million households to inform them about the party's 25 assurances.
Some women went to the Congress office in Lucknow on June 6 morning but weren’t allowed entry (Source: Money Control)
The Mahalakshmi Scheme
One of the key guarantees under the 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' campaign was the Mahalakshmi scheme, which assured a monthly deposit of Rs 8,500 directly into the accounts of female heads of families classified under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. This scheme bears resemblance to the Gruha Lakshmi guarantee scheme implemented by the Congress-led Karnataka government, wherein Rs 2,000 is disbursed to female heads of impoverished families.
The promise of the Mahalakshmi scheme sparked a frenzy among women in Bengaluru, who rushed to open bank accounts in anticipation of receiving the monthly deposit of Rs 8,500.
The Congress Manifesto
As the party geared up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress manifesto played a pivotal role in outlining its electoral commitments. According to the party's statement, compiling the manifesto involved nationwide consultations and gathering numerous suggestions through email and the 'Awaaz Bharat Ki' website.
The manifesto particularly highlighted the 'Paanch Nyay' (five pillars of justice) initiative, which includes 'Yuva Nyay', 'Naari Nyay', 'Kisaan Nyay', 'Shramik Nyay', and 'Hissedari Nyay'. These pillars encompassed the party's promises for the youth, women, farmers, workers, and inclusive development, respectively.
Rahul Gandhi's Promises
During the campaign trail, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, made several promises to the electorate. He assured guaranteed apprenticeships for unemployed youth and pledged to transfer Rs 1 lakh into the bank accounts of women belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), backward classes, and poor families. Gandhi emphasized that this initiative would provide thousands of rupees in their accounts every month, aiming to empower women financially.
Falling for False Promises
Recently, the General Post Office in Bengaluru experienced a surge of women rushing to open accounts in anticipation of receiving a monthly deposit of Rs 8,500, contingent on the INDIA bloc coming to power at the Centre.
During the Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress party secured 99 seats, while the BJP won 240 seats. One of Congress's key promises was Rs 1 lakh to women, which led many women to gather at Congress offices holding guarantee cards. Tasleem, speaking to an Aaj Tak reporter outside a Congress office, showed her card and mentioned that the office staff had instructed her to include her booth (voting center) number on the form. However, other women outside the office complained that they were not receiving the forms despite waiting for a long time. They claimed that the Congress guarantee card promised Rs 1 lakh to the female head of each household.
On June 1, numerous burqa-clad women arrived at the General Post Office on Raj Bhavan Road in Bengaluru to open India Post Payments Bank accounts, believing in the Congress's promise of swift service delivery. The chief postmaster clarified that the women had been misled by rumors and that no money would be distributed into these accounts. Despite this clarification, the rush to open accounts persisted for several days.
Election Results and Impact
Despite defying exit poll projections, the INDIA bloc secured 234 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while the BJP-led NDA appeared poised to assume power, clinching 292 seats and narrowly surpassing the majority threshold of 272.
The Congress party's 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' campaign and promises, particularly the Mahalakshmi scheme, resonated with the electorate, especially women from underprivileged backgrounds. The visuals of women lining up outside the Congress office in Lucknow seeking 'guarantee cards' and submitting forms for fund disbursement underscored the impact and appeal of the party's assurances.
Conclusion
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed the Congress party's ambitious 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' campaign, which aimed to connect with millions of households and promote the party's five 'Nyay' principles and 25 assurances. The Mahalakshmi scheme, promising monthly financial assistance to female heads of impoverished families, garnered significant attention and sparked hope among women from underprivileged backgrounds.
While the BJP-led NDA emerged victorious, the Congress party's campaign and promises resonated with a significant portion of the electorate, particularly women seeking economic empowerment. As the nation moves forward, the impact of these promises and the conversations they sparked will undoubtedly shape the political discourse and future electoral strategies of parties in India.
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